Installing a hose reel to a stucco surface sounds pretty easy to do but with all of the different designs out there and considerations like weight, leaking issues and what types of fasteners to use can make the task increasingly more difficult if you don't use the proper materials and techniques to install these.
These are relatively simple to mount though and a few minor tools are needed. This method I am about to show you WORKS FOR BOTH HOSE HANGERS AND REELS! Let's dive in to see what it takes...
What You Will Need For Attaching A Hose Reel To A Stucco Surface:
- A hose reel of some sort
- A drill
- A masonry drill bit
- A screwdriver
- A wall anchor set (with screws and anchors)
- A decent power drill (electric or cordless)
- Caulking (acrylic, silicone or polyurethane)
- A hammer
- A level
- A pencil
- A pen
Different Types Of Hose Reels/Hangers Will Matter...
Hose Hangers: A simple hose hanger that will hold one single hose or a couple of hoses is not that big of a deal and most anchors can handle the weight and everyday use of these types of hose bibs.
These hose reels will usually have two holes for mounting them into the wall and will be one of the easiest types to mount.
Standard Manual Hose Reels: These are the most popular types of hose reels that I have seen and will usually have 4 mounting holes that are spread out pretty wide, making it sturdy and pretty easy to mount.
You will still have to use the appropriate fasteners for the weight and take into consideration that these can hold more hose than any other type of reel which equals more weight and stronger fasteners. There are tons of these on Amazon that you can choose from.
Retractable Hose Reels: These types of hose reels are very nice to have and will reel themselves up once you are all done and there are a few different models to choose from.
These will also require 4 bolts/screws usually but the pattern is smaller and will require some very strong fasteners.
These can usually only hold up to 65" of hose (on average) and will have a combined weight of the hose and the reel itself, so keep that in mind.
Hose Capacity: Some hose reels or hangers can hold increments on 50' of hose usually and they can range from 50' to 150' of hose so this will determine the capacity of the anchors used and is a big consideration you must include.
Hose Diameter: The larger the hose, the heavier it will be. There is not a huge difference overall (when compared to a smaller diameter hose) but when you are stacking 100' of hose or more it can attribute to a substantial amount of weight so be sure the fasteners are up to the task.
Distance To Water Spigot/Supply: If you are using a hose reel with a leader hose that bridges the distance between the water spigot and the base of the reel, be sure it is long enoungh to reach bot spots WITH some slack. If it is too far away it could damage the hose over time, can have kinking issues, etc.
Moving Parts: If the hanger or reel you chose has moving parts and will be in motion when you use it (reeling in the hose with the crank) then be sure to take extra precautions when mounting it.
You need to consider the weight of everything totaled up and compensated for the added force of cranking a hose, movement, etc. I would recommend using metal anchors instead or attaching to a stud.
The Hardware You Use Is Another Consideration:
A lot of the hose reels come with mounting hardware which is really not known to be a quality product and most people who buy these recommend upgrading their hardware that they come with, especially if you plan on going into masonry surfaces, like stucco! Here are a few of my hardware recommendations...
Steel Stucco Anchors: These are probably some of the strongest fasteners you can use to hang up your hose reels/hangers. They can have weight ratings of 50 - 100 lbs for the larger fasteners and up to 40 lbs. for the smaller ones.
These come in variety packs or can come in a specific size and length with anywhere from 10 - 20 or more in a pack. They are pretty inexpensive too, which is another nice addition.
Make sure the anchors are long enough for the type of stucco you have on your walls (3 coat, 1 coat or EIFS system). Remember these are made for going into the stucco and not the stud, which most hose reels will require.
It is rare that you will find a stud exactly where you want the hose reel/hanger to go
Plastic Wall Anchors: These will come with a lot of the hose reels you get and are pretty standard and very inexpensive. The sleeve is plastic so it won't rust but plastic is not nearly as strong as a metal fasteners and are harder to install into stucco because of the thickness of the wall.
If your reel/hanger came with these, you can try to use them but just be aware that they aren't the best choice for hanging these and may not be adequate for a stucco wall.
Concrete Screws: These are small screws that are very hard and are especially made to go into concrete but work great for stucco too. The threads are smaller and grab onto cement and concrete surfaces very well but will need to be pre-drilled, like the other fasteners.
They come in many lengths, diameters and can have a standard head or a hex-shaped head. The biggest downside is that they are BLUE. You can find these online in packages of 10 - 20 or more.
Screw Head Colors: By default, a lot of the fasteners you will find will be some type of a shiny metal color or another color that will not match the hose reel.
You can always paint the heads with a can of spray paint that matches the finish before you install the reel or hanger. Another option would be to buy aftermarket screws that are a closer match to the color of the hose reel.
These are easily found online and come in many colors, just get the right length for you stucco system.
Exterior Grade Fasteners: Make sure that the fasteners you are using are an exterior grade fastener so it will stand up to the elements. If rust develops it can get stuck in your wall and cause rust stains to drip down the wall.
Some Basic Tips And Guidelines That Will Help...
- Use a decent drill when drilling into the stucco so you will be able to do so easily and without much effort.
- Having a decent drill bit will make a world of difference, so get yourself a new one to make the job go quickly and smoothly.
- Use a screwdriver when attaching the hose reel or hanger onto the wall (last step) to avoid stripping the anchor, rendering it useless.
- You can place caulk on the backside of the hose reel if you need some extra adhesive power but remember that you may have to clean off the caulking one day in the future so use an acrylic caulk for an easier clean up.
- You can paint the heads of the bolts/screws to match the hose reel's finish for a better overall look in the end. They make specialty paints that will give you a pretty close match to the color and texture.
- If you have a one coat stucco system, then you will want to attach the hose reel to at least one stud because the base coat depth of stucco is only 3/8" thick, which will not provide much stability when anchored into the wall alone.
Step 1: Decide On A Good Mounting Spot
The first step is to decide on a good mounting spot near the spigot somewhere. These are typically mounted above a hose spigot or slightly off to the side some where.
The recommended height for mounting one of these is somewhere between 3 and 5 feet off of the ground. Use your own judgement and make sure the leader hose will easily reach the spigot (if the reel uses one).
Step 2: Mark One Edge Of The Reel Base With A Pencil:
After you have the hose reel/hanger where you want it, trace a small line along the top or side somewhere to use as a reference point. The line only needs to be about an inch or so long for now.
We will extend the line in the next step so just a small line now. If a pencil is not working, you can try using a dry erase marker instead or something else that can be cleaned off, try to avoid permanent markers though.
Step 3: Extend Your Reference Line Using A Level
Now use a level to extend your line a few inches longer. Try to make it long enough for the entire base and it will help you out a lot more than a smaller line would.
You could also make two or three shorter lines (on the ends and middle) instead, if you would like. A 2' level would work best for this but a torpedo type level would also work but isn't nearly as long, so it will be a little less effective.
The pictures below illustrate how you would properly trace a horizontal and vertical line for the base.
Step 4: Mark Center Holes With Marker
Now, you need to line up your hose reel or hanger with the reference line you made earlier. make sure it is on your line and it looks straight.
Take a marker and mark the center of the mounting holes with a simple dot, like the picture on the right shows. You will want to mark all the holes in this step.
Step 5: Drill The Holes Through The Stucco Using A Drill Bit
Use a drill to drill through the stucco using a masonry or concrete drill bit. The bit should be the correct size for the fastener (if using one) and should penetrate about 1" - 1 1/2", depending on the stucco system you have on your building.
It would help to make a mark on the drill bit at the desired depth using a marker or a piece of tape so you can see when the desired depth is achieved.
Step 6: Fill The Hole With A Generous Amount Of Caulking
After you have the holes drilled, you will want to blow out the holes with compressed air or something similar, in order to get rid of the dust in the hole. You can also use a small can of compressed air for keyboards, which works great for this.
After ALL of the dust is out, you will caulk the holes using a silicone, polyurethane or acrylic caulking. You will want the tip of the tube to go inside the hole and make sure that the hole receives an adequate amount inside and not just on the surface of the hole.
Step 7: Install The Anchor In The Stucco Wall (If Used)
Now you'll want to install the wall anchors that either came with the hose reel (if it came with these) or the upgraded ones you bought separately (recommended).
For this example, I am using the plastic anchors but the metal ones will go in the same way. Some of the anchors will require you to twist them into the wall, which makes for a better anchoring point.
Gently tap the anchors into the stucco wall, using a hammer until they are flush with the wall. The lower anchor in the picture illustrates a properly installed anchor and how it should sit on the wall.
Step 8: Screw In The Hose Reel/Holder To The Anchors
The last step would be to screw in the screw to the anchors, which are usually provided in the wall anchor kit, if you happened to get a kit.
Tighten until snug, you don't want to over-tighten because you can strip the anchor, making it useless.
